Debt, Short-Term Debt (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Apr. 29, 2011 Bank Term Loan [Member]	Jan. 31, 2011 Bank Term Loan [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Bank Term Loan [Member]	Jan. 31, 2011 Bank Term Loan [Member] Option 1 [Member]	Jan. 31, 2011 Bank Term Loan [Member] Option 2 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Cleco Power [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Cleco Power [Member]
Short-Term Debt [Abstract]
Short-term debt outstanding	$ 0	$ 150,000			$ 150,000				$ 0	$ 0
Issuance date						February 2010
Interest rate						2.75%	2.50%	1.50%
Maturity date, prior to extension						February 2011
Maturity date, subsequent to extension					Aug. 19, 2011
Repayment of debt	$ 150,000	$ 0	$ 0	$ 150,000